Select the correct pair of prepositions to fill in the blanks in the following sentence:-

I didn't want to buy anything _____ the yellow lampshade, but I didn't have enough cash and the store manager wouldn't let me pay for it _____ a cheque.

except, with

The correct answer is Option (4) → except, with

First Blank: 'except': Except means 'other than' or 'excluding'. It fits the context: the speaker wanted to buy nothing other than the lampshade.

Second Blank: 'with' When referring to the instrument or method of payment, the preposition with is used for a specific medium like a cheque, credit card, or cash (pay with a cheque/card).